Greatings from Doryman

The voyage ethereal continues apace...

 When this weblog was introduced, I didn’t really know where to take it. Then, I found the beautifully functional designs of Iain Oughtred! Web searches turned up little, so I decided to profile some of his work here. Those who have been around for a while may remember what blossomed into profiles of small boats of all kinds, with emphasis on home-builders and their creations. Today, the Internet is awash with gunkholing vessels of many types and documentation of their creation. The community I once envisioned has arrived and I am so happy to be part of it. After forty years as a wood boat builder and builder’s advocate in the workspace, I’ve passed on the baton.

 Make no mistake, I continue to sail and have a few projects languishing here and there, as health allows. For now, I have exciting news. From the days when I first learned to sail, my experience was with small wooden keel boats. Then came the Gougeon Brothers with their plywood and glue methods, revolutionizing home boatbuilding forever.

 While I’ve embraced new materials and methods, my heart still lies with hand-built vessels made of living trees. To be sure, although some are still being built, the planked wooden boats of yore are an anachronism today. I’ve lived and breathed this transition, so in some ways, I suppose that makes me anachronistic, too. So be it.

 Enter Etta May, a Friendship sloop built in 1960. Carvel planked cedar on oak frames, it doesn’t get much more traditional than that. She’s 27 feet LOD (on-deck) with a 6 foot extreme beam and 32 feet over-all She has a short spruce mast, supporting a gaff rigged mainsail, running backstays and all. I could be twenty years old again! Various sized jibs (hanked-on) and spinnakers complete the rig.

 

Auxilary power is a small diesel motor, but you know how Doryman feels about motors of all kinds.

Please note the mount for a sculling oar.

A realistic survey of this 63 year old shows her age. We may be on our last dance, who knows? All I can tell you is, I’m happy to be here.

 A new/old chapter in the Voyage Ethereal.

New Skipper.

The only gaff rig in the bunch.

Isn't she beautiful?

Chebacco, ALUNA

As promised, here is an update on Aluna, the lapstrake Chebacco, 12years old, made new.

In northern Columbia the Kogi, as the custodians ('Big Brother') of Earth, have been looking down from their mountain at the activities of ‘Younger Brother’ (their name for the rest of humanity) and become frightened about how the world is changing. They believe there is a mind inside nature, that they call ‘Aluna’.

The Chebacco is a Phil Bolger design in a minimalist shallow water cruiser.

Aluna had sadly been left for  decade on a trailer under a tarp. This photo shows the cockpit sole removed. Fortunately the evil wood rot had not reached it's tentacles into the hull beneath.

Today, I'm happy to report, the offending microbe has been banished, repairs complete, and Aluna floats. My good friend, Doug and I shared the repair and he took on the task of refinishing the entire vessel. And what a gorgeous job. The rigging is roughed out, so sea trials could commence any day.

I'll let the photos speak for themselves...

(that object just off the bow is the lid on a tractor)

As the sun sets Aluna rests in her slip, waiting for rigging to be complete, to try her wings.

Confessions of a Disabled Sailor

The world pandemic has found me under my own forced convalescence. As some of you know, I was near fatally injured in a car accident forty years ago. Prosthetics and orthotics have made it possible for me to live a full, eventful life regardless, some of which we've all shared here in these pages for almost thirteen years(!).

Two years ago I suffered a stoke, which impaired my balance enough that eventually a dramatic fall last October began an extended period of convalescence, from then until now. Growing old is not for the faint of heart.

But, determined to carry on, I fully intend to come out the other side stronger, despite being the target age of this debilitating world disease. With that in mind, I'd like to share with you some projects underway in the Doryman boatyard.

The last post found Doryman floundering under a capsize in the worthy faering, Saga. Although she saw service through the rest of last summer, she'd been abused and misused, much the same as her skipper. Some parts and pieces were lost in the capsize and her finishes suffered. Though no lasting damage resulted, she is in need of love, which comes apace. I love this little boat. We've been through a lot together, most of which was pure joy. She's a challenge to sail, the older I get, but I'm not ready to give up yet, we have more time to share.

Here's a shot of a debilitated Doryman at the helm, after the capsize last summer. That timid posture is the result of doing more than I should with a recent spinal injury from the fall I mentioned earlier. Hurts my back just to look at it.

 Ouch.

Right now, there are no restrictions on sailing from the marina I live in so the plan is to launch Saga by May Day, in the Puget Sound, Salish Sea.

Travel is pretty restricted here, since the Canadian border to the north is closed to boaters and most marinas are closed. But for me it's all one ocean, as my friend Webb is wont to point out from time to time.

Restrictions imply impermanence, which brings us to some exciting news;

 Chebacco. 

Back in 2009 I had the pleasure of a cruise in Chuck's self-built Chebacco Full Gallop. Nice boat.

About that time, I came upon the same design, but with lapstake planking. Unfortunately the price was too steep for me, which was a shame, since I'd come to love the boat by then.

Fast forward to last month. The same boat is still for sale. Well, no longer, because my friend, Doug and I went and picked it up. 

The Chebacco is a Phil Bolger design in a minimalist shallow water cruiser. Repairs are underway as we speak. When the Canadian border opens up, I know where I'm going. 

Disabilities be damned.

More anon...

Thinkin' About Building a Dory

Don't suppose any explanation is necessary.

Preparation for the Sucia Rendezvous

Not much going on around here that has any romantic appeal. The Doryman boatyard is currently occupied by a ClipperCraft dory and a Bartender dory.

The ClipperCraft has a four cylinder Volvo engine that can power a two ton craft to speeds of 40 mph. The Bartender utilizes a 40 hp outboard to exceed speeds of 30 mph.

The modern offshore fisherman will rationalize the use of a vehicle that gets 5 miles per gallon by explaining that they need to get farther and farther offshore to fish.  

It costs over $200, American currency, to go out 50 miles and back in one day, so even if you catch your limit, the fish will cost far more than market value.
So what is the point to such extravagance?

I have no answer.

 Scraping and sanding. Will it ever end?







The redeeming  task of the day is preparation for a sail and oar trip in July. While I had hoped for completion of the Stone Horse project for this trip, that was not to be. Instead, the capable faering, Saga will once again traverse the waters of the northern Salish Sea. To that end, she has been completely repainted and outfitted as though she might commence a circumnavigation.

I have confidence in this little boat, the only reservation being that she is completely open. Sometimes the question is whether the skipper can take as much as the boat..



This year, Saga will sport a jib.

Recently, a reader found exception to the gear on Saga. The complaint was that the design by William Atkin did not call for deadeyes on the shrouds and that such an extravagance was nothing but fluff. Mr. Atkin was adamant that his designs should not be altered, but if there were one perfect design, there would be only one boat.

We've cut down an old sail to fit the worthy faering as a storm jib. I have only a theoretical idea how this might affect performance.

We will see, won't we?









Here's a link for the Small Boat Rendezvous, which will be on the first full weekend in July this year.

Northern Reach

From Scotland to Iceland via Orkney, Shetland and Faeroe Islands.

I'd like to draw your attention to yet another traveler.



Chris Duff is one of those exceptional human beings who's will, spirit and ambition ride high on a cresting wave. He is famous for over 15,000 nautical miles of endurance kayaking, including a circumnavigation of Iceland, a solo circumnavigation of New Zealand and also Ireland. He also set the record for being the first person to circumnavigate Great Britain alone.

Last year this time he attempted the route of the Northern Reach but weather and high seas turned him back to Scotland. This year, with renewed spirit and training, Chris is once again part of the sea he loves:

"I am very capable but I am no match for the sea. Knowing this is essential. The sea is where I feel most at home, but it is a place that demands respect and a cautious approach. Every day from here on out will be very busy. It's all part of the adventure."

His boat is a modified Wayland Marine 19-foot Merry Wherry.
Hard to imagine, but Chris feels very confident of this boat in the open ocean.

I am in awe of this man and anxiously follow his journey on the website, Northern Reach.

Chris recently quoted  Erden Eruc:  "A man does what he can and destiny reveals itself."

How true.

I would include women in that equation. But a quote is a quote.